Alex's POV
First of all, what?
Where the hell am I?
What is this place eve-
"HAHAHAHA! He's such a loser!"
A boy spoke up, hands on his hips. Young in age, probably a student, as he was in a tracksuit with an academic monogram. His face was pale with childlike innocence, with freckles all around. His hair, a mushroom cut, common among boys of that age. His eyes, dark but also were deep, as if he had seen things.
As my vision panned out, I noticed more people around him, similar in age and outfits. They were probably school kids out for their games session.
I looked around me. There it was, the ball hurled at me, probably the reason why I'm here. There was a monotonous cast around me, with grey clouds looming above. The surroundings were damp and humid, with a heaviness in the air and petrichor spread around, as if announcing the arrival of a downpour.
As I looked down, I noticed the same navy blue tracksuit with the same white monogram on it.
This is impossible.
First of all, they shouldn't be interacting with me directly, that's not how it works.
Second of all, why do I have such a heavy archetype? I'm a bystander in the plays.
Lastly, I have no plays due, so whose script is this?
With many questions rising in the back of my head, I threw a very puzzled look at them.
Something triggered them.
"Who the f*ck are you to throw that face at us huh!" The kid stepped forward, gritting his crooked teeth with his lips trapped in between some.
Who the f*ck are you to talk to me like this?!
I bit my lower lip, glaring at him square in the eyes, and hurled a hand towards him. My mouth opened to utter a few friendly shots of course, ready to punch out a few good words.
"I won't let-"
I choked on my voice, my hands falling back in place.
"I won't let this happen again..."
Is what came out of my mouth instead, with my head lowered.
Huh? What does this mean?
"How dare-"
My words choked again.
"How dare I do this? It's my fault."
What the f*ck are you saying?
Why are my words getting filtered?
"Hmm... As expected," He said, a finger under his chin. "I thought you'd gained some power overnight or something, like some anime character," he said, looking over both of his shoulders at his classmates. They all erupted into laughter.
Safe to say, I was in the body of some unpopular punching bag of the class.
I slouched my head down, which felt like something locked into place, and the prior stance was more uncomfortable. I turned back and started walking away, towards a corner of the field.
"Wait!" Someone exclaimed. The voice was different compared to before.
I didn't react. I just kept walking.
"Didn't I tell you to wait?" The voice seemed to grow closer, with a final sigh falling right on the back of my neck.
I turned around.
It was another student, but somehow I just knew he was a Seeker. He had the main character aura, you see. A visible halo around his body.
But what was he doing here with me? Shouldn't he be looking for his pair?
Regardless, he was a pretty human. His face was small, clear wheatish skin, tanned from all the exposure. His dark hair falling right at the neck, with high volume, flowing with the wind. His eyes were greenish-blue, glittering like gems despite the weather, his nose high bridged and he himself was quite tall but lean.
I could tell, he would be super popular amongst his peers. His beauty was on par with the nobles, probably the only one with etiquettes here.
"What the f*ck dude? Can't you m*therf*cking hear me?"
I guess not.
I sighed deeply, parting my prickly parched lips.
Here we go again.
"What... Can I compensate you with?"
Grow a spine please.
He wrapped his long, slender arm around me, dragging me along himself to the tree near the field.
"He's done for," I can swear I heard someone say it.
For some reason, my shoulders were narrow enough to fit in his arm. I was flinching every second, as I felt my body touch his. Sparks were flying all around me and no, not the nice kind. It was terrifying feeling to be around him.
As soon as we approached the tree, he turned towards me. Both his hands rested on my shoulders now, tightly gripping them.
"You wanted to compensate me eh?
I simply nodded.
"Bring me the latest Final Fantasy game CD. I shall offer you the protection oath of the Cool Squad in exchange," he said, shaking my shoulders.
CDs? In 2026?
"Pfft..." A laugh escaped my mouth, gaining a puzzled look from him.
"What's there to laugh eh?"
"Cool Squad... HAHAHAHA!" I couldn't hold myself back anymore. He obviously looked offended.
"Look," he said, blinking hard, "this is the coolest thing here, maybe you are some oldie you doesn't have the taste."
"What do you mean?" I said, wiping my tears, "this stuff was popular in the 90s. Besides, what CDs are you asking, which era did your clock stop at?"
"Are you joking with me?" He furrowed his eyebrows, "Have you lost your mind, Max? My clock is correct," he held out his Casio watch, a luxury of 1990s.
Something was really wrong.
And who is this Max?
Right then, I saw it.
The date on his watch.
4th August, 1996.
Wait.
I'm actually in the 90s?!
No wonder he was asking for the video game CDs.
I don't remember writing any play about the 90s.
"Okay," I said, fixing my glasses by the bridge, "I'll get it for you."
Of course you would, you fool!
"Really? Thanks friend. You shall receive the protection of Cool Squad from now on."
I sighed, knowing that I wouldn't be able to say anything that I wanted to anyways. He returned back to his friends.
As he was walking back, I noticed the hive of students parting as he walked through, like subjects queuing up for their king. Maybe he was from a super rich family or something.
"Interesting," I muttered to myself.